Charles Scott is on the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, which is given annually to the nation's top running back. On the Davey O'Brien Award watch list is quarterback Jordan Jefferson. Richard Dickson is on the Mackey Award watch list--the award presented to the nation's top tight end. All three of these Tigers will play integral roles in the offense this season, that's for sure, but winning these individual honors will be no easy task.
Charles Scott is coming off his best season since he's been at LSU; a season in which he carved up opposing defenses for a total of 1,174 yards and 18 touchdowns. Kevin Faulk was the last Tiger to rush for 1,000+ yards in consecutive seasons, doing so in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Justin Vincent in 2003, Jacob Hester in 2007, and Charles Scott in 2008 are the only other Tigers to run for 1,000 yards since Faulk. Toefield came close in 2001 with 992 net yards rushing, and Joseph Addai and Domanick Davis flirted with 1,000, but never broke the barrier.
Charles Scott will undoubtedly be the feature back this season, and provided he stays healthy, I expect him to have another banner season. Les Miles has praised the offensive line and says this line may be the best he's had at LSU. If this in fact is the best line he's seen while he's been here, we could be in for a treat. As long as they stick together, pick one another up, and play with a relentless mentality, our running game could be one of the best, if not THE best, in the country.
Richard Dickson may be one of the best kept secrets in all of college football. He is one of the most sure-handed tight ends in the game today, and he's a playmaker. He has the ability to make the big catches, he can make catches in traffic, and he's athletic enough to be more than just a threat underneath the coverage--meaning he can run a vertical or a post over the deep middle of the field. He's going to play a vital role in the passing game this season, and he'll be called upon often. He and LaFell may need to carry the bulk of the load for the first few games, but hopefully we'll find reliable third and fourth targets to compliment our passing game.
Lastly, Jordan Jefferson. Having Jefferson on this list as a sophomore has me a little perplexed. I don't expect him to win the Davey O'Brien Award by any means; mainly because we're very balanced and tend to the favor the run a little more than the pass. The biggest reason(s) I see this (having Jefferson on the list) as baffling is because Jefferson only started two games last season, and his numbers were not necessarily the greatest. He was efficient in the bowl game, sure; but he's not going to put up Sam Bradford's or Colt McCoy's numbers. Could it happen? Sure. Will it happen? Doubtful. Like I said, we favor the run too much for Jefferson to throw for 3,000 yards in a single season. It's nice the O'Brien Award organization has acknowledged Jefferson, and they consider him to be one of the top quarterbacks in the country, but anyone putting him atop the list or even in the top five, in my opinion, is a little beyond themselves.
It's going to be tough for Charles Scott to win the Doak Walker Award when he has to compete with the likes of Jonathan Dwyer, Jahvid Best, and Jacquizz Rodgers, but it's possible he could bring home the gold; or at least he could receive an invite to the award ceremony. The Mackey Award is a very winnable award for Dickson. I think, of the three Tigers named to watch lists for their respective position's award, Dickson has the best chance of winning. He's proven himself to be a valuable asset to this team since 2007, and I have always admired the way he plays the game. He's not afraid to throw a block, he can make big plays, and he's a complete football player. I wish all three the best of luck, but individual accolades mean very little to me. I'd much rather see another championship banner.
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